A local NGO in Taman Sri Muda, Selangor, claimed it was a case of confusion following allegations that flood victims were duped into attending a gathering in support of ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Taman Sri Muda Seksyen 25 chairperson N Sivakumar said flood victims were mobilised to go to the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) with the intention of submitting a memorandum to demand more aid.
However, he claimed it was coincidental that Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia was organising a pro-Najib gathering at the same venue.
The allegation emerged after photographs were circulated on social media showing out-of-place senior citizens holding up placards that read "Stop the persecution of Najib", "Tangkap Zeti, Bebas Najib" (Arrest ex-Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, free Najib), and "We don't want PRN, we want PRU (We don't want state election, we want general election).
Sivakumar said Persatuan Sahabat Ulu Amri Malaysia had distributed the placards to people at the venue without knowing their affiliation.
"When they gave the placards, they gave to the flood victims as well because they were from a different NGO.
"They didn't know who the flood victims were," he told Malaysiakini when asked for an explanation.
Sivakumar said his NGO had gathered flood victims from Taman Sri Muda to show that they had been affected by the disaster and had not received enough help.
Interestingly, Sivakumar said the memorandum to ask for more flood aid was intended to be handed over to Persatuan Sabahat Ulul Amri Malaysia, which was coincidentally the organiser of the pro-Najib gathering.
"When we entered WTCKL, there was already confusion. We wanted to submit the memorandum through Persatuan Sabahat Ulul Amri," he said.
Sivakumar said the plan was for Persatuan Sahabat Ulu Amri to convey the matter to Najib, who can then take it to the government.
"We asked Najib to increase the aid for flood victims through the prime minister. That is all," he said.
He said the memorandum, among others, called for upgrades to flood mitigation infrastructure, financial aid and loans for small traders and also bash handouts and interest-free loans for flood victims.
Yesterday, Twitter user @nasyrulsyahmi shared a poster that announced an event to submit a memorandum to Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"There were parents who shared this in a school group. Many went expecting to get flood aid but ended up having to chant 'save Najib'.
"Crazy. Pity the flood victims," he said.
The venue on the fourth floor of WTCKL and the time of 10am were identical to the gathering Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia had announced to protest the "victimisation of Najib".
Meanwhile, Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia president Syed Muhammad Imran S N Syed Abdul Aziz, when asked to respond to allegations that flood victims were duped to back Najib, said the matter was misinterpreted.
Organiser claims misinterpretation
"In any programme, there will be those who like it and those who do not.
"I take the approach that an NGO leader who speaks up for flood victims has good intentions. It was only misinterpreted," he said.
He also maintained that the presence of Sivakumar's entourage at the event was merely to submit a memorandum.
Syed Muhammad Imran also stressed there was never any promise of flood aid or money.
"He (Sivakumar) only requested to submit the memorandum. They wanted to convey their wishes in the memorandum, which had requests for millions of ringgit.
"That's what he wanted to do... his intention was good. He wasn't going to provide necessities to people," Syed Muhammad Imran told Malaysiakini.
Syed Muhammad Imran claimed some 4,000 people attended the event, and only 10 percent made up of flood victims.
Media reports put the attendance at around 500 people.
According to WTCKL's brochure, the exhibition hall on the fourth floor can hold up to 2,500 people during pre-pandemic times. - Mkini
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